The landscape is constantly shifting in U.S. racing.  For instance Monmouth Park is undergoing some $30 million dollars of renovations in preparation for hosting the 2007 Breeders’ Cup championships.  Two of the biggest highlights include major changes to the Monmouth racing surfaces.  A completely new cushion for the dirt course will be installed (similar to the standard cushions used on the east coast).  Also, a brand new turf course was installed in early 2006, and made its debut in the summer.  The States are always competing to improve their thoroughbred racing products.  Delaware and West Virginia passed legislation in the 1990s to allow slot machines at race tracks, providing a cut of the take for increased race purses.  As a result, more than $400 million from Maryland is wagered on slots and racing at tracks in Delaware and West Virginia, according to Mike Gathagan, spokesperson for the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Laurel Park and Pimlico.  Pennsylvania is another illustration of the dramatic impact of slots money.  Purses at Philadelphia Park (Bensalem, Pennsylvania) more than doubled in 2007.  The Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby is a million dollar race for the first time in the history of the event.   

In neighboring Maryland, the House Ways and Means Committee voted down Governor Robert Ehrlich’s slot machine bill in 2003.  The Maryland state House and Senate passed separate slot bills in 2005, but the bills died in the General Assembly.  Governor-elect Martin O’Malley pledged in November of 2006 to continue fighting for a slots bill.  Texas is another state that has resisted the impulse to install slots at its race tracks.  And the Lone Star State is in trouble because neighboring states are attracting bettors and horsemen to their tracks that offer slot machines and other “Las Vegas-style” gambling (these tracks are referred to as “racinos.”).  Meanwhile, in neighboring Louisiana, Delta Downs (Vinton, Louisiana) was rejuvenated by the addition of slots and continues to thrive today.  In 2006, Florida became the 12^th state (at that time) to pass legislation to allow Vegas style gambling at thoroughbred racing venues (but only in Broward County, home of Gulfstream Park).  The top tier race track in Florida, Gulfstream Park, wasted no time and installed slots on-site in the fall of 2006.

When all is said and done, the top tracks provide the highest purses, and the highest purses attract the top trainers, and the top trainers display the best racehorses, and the best racehorses generate the largest betting pools.  Also, the top trainers attract the top riders, further enhancing the betting pools.